Branches vs Open
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Branches
This semi-modular synthesizer offers a "west coast" style of sound design, inspired by classic synthesizers. It functions as a standalone app with MIDI input or as an AUv3 plugin within a DAW, allowing for complex sound creation and experimentation.
- Semi-modular synthesis engine
- Standalone app and AUv3 plugin support
- West coast style sound processing
- Duophonic synthesis with dual MIDI channels
- Generative melody capabilities
- Waveform fading and wave folding
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Branches is a semi-modular synthesizer inspired by classics of the past. It runs both as a standalone instrument with support for external MIDI input or as a plugin (AUv3) in your favorite DAW app. Audio from the oscillators are permanently hardwired into the lowpass gates and the default patch is setup to receive MIDI and trigger the lowpass gate for the complex oscillator. This way you can get up and running fast and are then free to experiment with your own patching. Branches is utilizing what is sometimes referred to as a "west coast" style of processing which in this case means timbre is adjusted by adding harmonics to a basic sine wave. One of the oscillators does this by fading between multiple waveforms freely, the other does it by employing a wave folder and blending it with another user selectable waveform. The first one can also modulate either frequency or amplitude of the second. Branches support MIDI input on two channels. This allows you to control each oscillator and low pass gate individually if you please, acting as a duophonic synthesizer. Utilizing the rest of the modules opens up a world of different possibilities - generative random melodies, timbre changing over time, modulation from your host app etc.
Open
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OpenShape is a chord and tuning tool for guitarists who go beyond standard tuning. Pick any tuning — DADGAD, Drop D, Open G, or a fully custom one — and OpenShape finds real, playable chord voicings across the whole fretboard, not just generic shapes. Add a capo and it recalculates instantly. Every note you hear is a real recorded acoustic guitar sample, not a synthesized tone. Features: • Exact chord voicings for any tuning, any capo position • Unlimited custom tunings (Pro) • Build and save chord progressions, with playback • Built-in microphone tuner • Real acoustic guitar audio for every chord • Dark mode • No account required, no ads Free includes standard tunings, the tuner, and up to 3 saved progressions. OpenShape Pro ($9.99 one-time) unlocks unlimited custom tunings and unlimited saved progressions — no subscription.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Open at Free against Branches's $5.99. Open also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.6). Branches's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and update cadence (every 6 days vs every 3 weeks). On ads and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Open is free to download; Branches costs $5.99 up front. Open sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Branches asks for nothing beyond the download.
Branches ships an update every 6 days, Open every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Branches | Open |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $5.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 3.9 (12 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 36.4% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 12 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 6 days — better | Every 3 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Paid | — |
| Devices | iPad, Mac | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 18.6 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 3 MB | 12 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Willow & Oak AB | michael Hix |
In-app purchases
Branches
No in-app purchases
Open
- Open—Shape Pro$9.99









